Coin game machine island and coin treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A coin game machine island and a coin treating device for use with the coin game machine island is provided, wherein coins as game media can be washed inside the island so that no coin washing equipment needs to be provided outside the island, thereby making it possible not only to restrict the increase in space but also reduce the costs. A coin circulating path is constituted by a distribution conveyer extending at the upper portion of the island, overflow passageways extending downwardly from the outlet end of the distribution conveyer and respective coin game machines, a recovering conveyer extending at the lower portion of the island for connecting the respective overflow passageways, a coin tank placed at the outlet end of the recovering conveyer and a lifter device lifting coins inside the tank to the inlet end of the distribution conveyer. A coin treating device is provided along the length of the coin circulating path. A coin supply machine feeds out coins received therein at a certain pitch, and coins being conveyed to processes downstream the coin supply machine via a conveyer mechanism. Dirty matter on coins being carried over the conveyer mechanism are washed off with water by a coin washing machine, afterwards water on washed coins is removed by using a dehydrator, and finally moisture on dehydrated coins is removed using a dryer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a coin game machine island in which pluralcoin game machines using a coin as a medium and plural coin dispenserdispensing coins corresponding to an amount of inserted money are placedalternately side by side. Also the present invention relates to a cointreating apparatus mounted inside the coin game machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, a coin treating apparatus for washing a coin as amedium has been mounted outside of a coin game machine island.Accordingly, coins, overflowed from both slot machines in the coin gamemachine island and a supply conveyer located on an upper portion of theisland, are first sent to a collecting conveyer under the island (forexample under ground). Then coins are sent to a polishing chambermounted outside of the coin game machine island by the collectingconveyer. After that, coins are washed before being stored in a tank.Those coins in the tank, if necessory, are supplied to the supplyconveyer located on the upper portion of each island for returning coinsto the islands.

A coin treating apparatus mounted inside the polishing chamber liftscoins and granulated abrasives into a pipe and stirs them. Thenabrasives and polished coins are screened at the top end of the pipe touse the abrasives repeatedly. The abrasives are synthetic resingranules. If the abrasives are stirred with the coins, the abrasivescontact the coins and absorb dirt from the coins.

The prior coin treating apparatus like above-mentioned has someproblems. One problem is that the coin treating apparatus needs achamber for mounting the coin treating apparatus therein, a tank forstoring coins and a large scale conveyer to send coins in the tank tothe supply conveyer located on the upper portion of each island. Anotherproblem is that the installation of the coin treating apparatus requiresa lot of space and is expensive. Another problem is that the maintenanceexpences are high.

Furthermore, since the coin surface is so rough, large size abrasivescannot clean dirt off the coin. If small size abrasives are used, allthe nooks and cranies of the coin are cleaned; however, the treating ofthe granular abrasives after polishing coins is difficult andunpractical.

Furthermore, abrasives must be washed regularly because abrasives absorbdirt from coins in polishing them; the washing process requires muchtime so it is inconvenient. In this case, one method is washing coins bya jet water stream without recycling abrasives. In the method, however,treatment of water after washing is difficult. One example of the methodfor treating water after washing is evaporating water by sending hotair, however, strong electricity and evaporated water have a badinfluence upon the apparatus; furthermore, a solution such as dirt inwater is left on the coin surface causing spots and a loss of glossinesson the coin surfaces.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin game machineisland and a coin treating apparatus which is capable of being mountedinside the coin game island to wash is capable of being inside theisland; so the coin treating apparatus does not need as large of a spaceas was needed by the prior art. Furthermore, the present inventionprovides lower installation and maintenance costs than the prior art. Itis another object of the present invention to provide a coin gamemachine island and a coin treating apparatus which is capable ofsufficiently washing all the nooks and cranies of the coin by water andthen eliminating the water on the coins surface efficiently andcertainly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to achieve above-mentioned objects andits essential points are disclosed as follows:

In a coin game machine island, plural coin game machines which use acoin as a game medium and plural coin dispensers for dispensing coinscorresponding to an amount of money inserted are placed alternativelyside by side to form a coin circulating path. The coin circulatingpather includes a distribution conveyer extending at each upper portionof the plural coin game machines and the plural coin dispensers; pluraloverflow passages extending downwardly from the end of the distributionconveyer and respective coin game machines; a collecting conveyerextending at the lower portion of said island and connected to the endsof said respective overflow passages; a coin tank placed at the outletend side of said collecting conveyer; a lift for lifting coins stored inthe coin tank to the inlet end of the distribution conveyer; and a coinwashing machine provided in the coin circulating path.

The coin washing machine includes a shower head for sprinkling waterover the coins, a rotating brush (72) for polishing wet coins bycontacting them with the rotating brush, and a jet nozzle (73) forwashing away dirt from the polished coins by shooting a jet stream ofwater at the coins.

The coin game machine island further includes a coin supply machine forreceiving coins on the coin circulating path and sending the coins tothe coin washing machine (70) at a given interval; a conveying mechanismfor sending coins in the coin supply machine down stream for furtherprocessing, a dehydration mechanism for absorbing water on washed coins,and a dryer for removing dampness from the dehydrated coins.

The coin game machine island has plural distribution outlets for eachcoin game machine which are bored in the side of the distributionconveyer such that each distribution outlet and each coin game machineare connected by a coin introducing passage. A shutter is movablebetween a shutting position, the distribution conveyer from passing andfor introducing coins into the distribution outlet and an openingposition for permitting the passing of coins on the distributionconveyer down stream. The shutter is mounted above the distributionconveyer beside each distribution outlet.

A coin treating apparatus is mounted inside a coin game machine islandin which plural coin game machines, each of which use a coin as a gamemedium are placed. The coin treating apparatus includes

a coin supply machine for receiving and sending coins at a giveninterval;

a conveying mechanism for sending coins in the coin supply machine todown stream for further processing;

a coin washing machine for removing dirt on the coins on said theconveying mechanism; and

a dehydration mechanism for absorbing water on the washed coins.

The coin supply machine has a storage container (52) for receivingcoins. The bottom (54) of container is funnel-shape, coin outlet isbored at the top of the funnel-shaped bottom. A stirring member having arotating hollow portion for dropping coins to the outside of the coinoutlet without taking in coins serially is positioned at the lowerportion in the storage container. The storage container is equipped withmultistage tilted boards on the inner wall for lightening the weight ofthe coins on the stirring member between the top opening portion of thestorage container and the stirring member at the lower portion of thestorage container.

The conveying mechanism of the coin treating apparatus has a firstconveying belt reaching to the coin washing machine to convey coins fromthe coin supply machine without turning coins over. The conveyingmechanism also has a second conveying belt. The second conveying belt(63) contacts the first conveying belt and conveys each turned over coinwhich has one surface washed to the coin washing machine again forwashing the unwashed surface. The dehydration mechanism has a pair ofguide rollers and an absorbing belt set between the guide rollers. Oneof the guide rollers is positioned so as to press the absorbing belt onthe wet surfaces of the coins on each conveying belt of the conveyingmechanism. A dehydration roller is mounted near the other guide rollerfor squeezing water out of the absorbing belt by putting the absorbingbelt between the dehydration roller and the guide roller. A water tankfor storing water squeezed out of the absorbing belt is positioned undersaid dehydration roller.

The coin treating apparatus further includes a dryer which has a heaterand a blower.

The coin treating apparatus further includes a coin packer for packingwashed and dried coins for every given number of coins.

Accordingly, coins (including medals), as the game medium, are suppliedby the distribution conveyer to the plural coin game machines and coindispensers which one placed alternatingly side by side each other. Thedistribution conveyer extends at each upper portion of the coin gamemachines and coin dispensers. Coins used in each coin game machine aresent to the collecting conveyer extending at the lower portion of theisland via overflow passages and then the coins are stored in the cointank which is placed at the outlet end side of the collecting conveyer.

The coins stored in the coin tank are lifted to the inlet end of thedistribution conveyer by said lift. Since the coin treating apparatus isprovided in the coin circulating path, coin washing can be done in thecoin game island. Therefore, the coin washing equipment outside theisland and the conveying equipment, such as a large scale conveyer forconnecting the island and the coin washing equipment, are unnecessary.Circulating coins which are supplied or collected in the coin gameisland are treated by the coin treating apparatus as follows.

First the coin supply machine sends out at a given interval coins whichhave been reduced the conveying mechanism sends coins in the coin supplymachine downstream for further processing. Next the washing machine useswater to wash dirt away from coins conveyed on the with conveyingmechanism. Second the dehydration mechanism absorbs water from thewashed coins. If the island is equipped with a dryer, the dryer removesany remaining dampness from the dehydrated coins. According to thepresent invention, the washing and treating of coins by the cointreating apparatus will now be explained in detail.

Coins are stored in the storage container. Since the storage containeris equipped with multistage tilted boards therein, coins do not falltowards the bottom of the storage containers but slip down themultistage tilted boards. Therefore, the stirring member, located at alower portion of the storage container never adds excessive weight.

Although the coins which reach the funnel-shaped bottom of the storagecontainer tend to collect at the coin outlet which is bored at the topof the funnel-shaped bottom (54), the coins do not enter the coin outleteasily even when the stirring member is rotated to pick up the coins. Inthis case, coins enter gradually into the hollow portion through outergaps of the rotating stirring member and move down to the coin outlet bydegrees, and then they are sent to the conveying mechanism at a giveninterval.

Coins sent to the first conveying belt of the conveying mechanism at agiven interval reach the coin washing machine without being turned over.In the coin washing machine, the shower head (71) sprinkles water,either hot or cold, over the coins to wet them water enters into all thenooks and cranies of the coins. Thus, dirt on the coins is dissolved inthe water.

Then, the rotating brush polishes the wet coins by contacting them.Finally, the jet nozzle washes away dirt from the polished coins byshooting a jet stream of water at the coins. At this time, the jetstream of water takes off dirt still sticking to the nooks and craniesof the coins. Each coin thus has one surface which has been washed andthe coin is then turned over while being conveyed on the secondconveying belt of the conveying mechanism and returned to the coinwashing machine for washing the other surface.

The coin, on the conveying belt, having both surfaces washed by the coinwashing machine is sandwiched between the conveying belt and theabsorbing belt of said dehydration mechanism. Therefore almost all ofthe remaining water on the coin surfaces is absorbed by the absorbingbelt. The absorbing belt is sandwiched tightly between one of the guiderollers and the dehydration roller by the side of the guide roller.Water squeezed out of the absorbing belt is recovered and stored in thewater tank.

Since almost all remaining water on the coins surfaces is absorbed bythe dehydration mechanism dampness on the dehydrated coins is completelyremoved by blowing hot winds at the coins by a dryer. Thus, the waterremaining on the washed coin is treated by the dehydration mechanism andthe dryer (90) and is completely removed. Therefore, a solution causingspots and a loss of gloss on the coins' surfaces, such as dirt in water,is not left on the coins surfaces.

The coins that have been subjected to washing treatment by the cointreating apparatus as mentioned above are recirculated inside theisland. If the coin treating apparatus is equipped with a coin packerfor packing a given number of washed and dried coins in a paper orplastic case, the coins are packed and can also be recirculated in theisland together with nonpacked coins as need.

In a simple construction where the distribution outlets are bored in theside of the distribution conveyer in the coin circulating path, eachdistribution outlet and each coin game machine are connected by a coinintroducing passage, and the shutter, which can move between the closedposition and the open position, is mounted above the distributionconveyer beside each distribution outlet so that, each coin game machineis supplied with suitable number of coins efficiently as needed. Whenthe shutter is in the open position, coins on the distribution conveyerare conveyed downstream. When the shutter is in the closed position,coins on the distribution conveyer are prevented from passing. The coinsare then introduced into the distribution outlet for distribution ofcoins to the game machines (11) that need coin coins supplied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the first embodiment of a coingame island.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the first embodiment of a coin gameisland.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the first embodiment of a coin gameisland.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the first embodiment of a cointreating apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing a coin supply machine of the cointreating apparatus mounted inside the first embodiment of a coin gameisland.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing a coin supply machine of thecoin treating apparatus mounted inside the first embodiment of a coingame island.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a stirring member of a coin supplymachine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration showing a coin washing machine of thecoin treating apparatus mounted inside the first embodiment of a coingame island.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing a dehydration mechanism ofthe coin treating apparatus mounted inside the first embodiment of acoin game island.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of a dehydrationmechanism of the coin treating apparatus mounted inside the firstembodiment of a coin game which is different from the part shown in FIG.9.

FIG. 11 is an plan view showing a distribution conveyer of the cointreating apparatus mounted inside the first embodiment of a coin gameisland.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines A--A ofFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view showing the first embodiment of acoin packer of the coin treating apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a side view the second embodiment of a coin game island.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The accompanying drawings, show the preffered embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 1˜FIG. 13 show the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a coin game island 10 of the present inventionincludes plural coin game machines 11 each of which uses a coin as agame medium and plural coin dispensers 20 dispensing coins correspondingto an amount of money inserted. The coin game machines are placed besidethe plural coin dispensers. A coin circulating path 1, for supplyingcoins to each coin game machine 11, and collecting coins used in eachcoin game machine, runs inside the coin game island 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the coin circulating path 1 includes adistribution conveyer 30 extending at each upper portion of the pluralcoin game machines 11 and coin dispensers 20; plural overflow passages40-42 extending downwardly from the end of the distribution conveyer 30and respective coin game machines 11; a collecting conveyer 43 extendingat the lower portion of the island and connected to the ends of therespective overflow passages 40-42; a coin tank 44 placed at the outletend side of the collecting conveyer 43 and a lift 45 for lifting coinsstored in the coin tank 44 to the inlet end of the distribution conveyer30.

The coin game machine 11 mounted on the coin game island 70 is a slotmachine using a coin as a game medium. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, acoin slot 12 and a liquid crystal display or LCD 13, displaying bars,bells, fruit, etc., are formed in the front of the coin game machine 11.The liquid crystal display or LCD 13 changes its displaying patternswhen a player pulls an arm 14, and changing patterns are stoppedrespectively by pushing stop buttons 15 corresponding to the respectivedisplaying portion of the liquid crystal display or LCD 13.

When combinations of stopped patterns of the liquid crystal display orLCD 13 lined with hit lines are the same as the given combinations, thecoin game machine 11 dispenses coins from a game machine coin hopper 17equipped with a counter an a coin return 16 according to the givendispensing rate by the order from a control section (not shown). Thegame machine coin hopper 17 is connected to the coin return 16 by a coindispensing passage 18.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, coin dispensers 20 are mounted betweencoin game machines 11. The coin dispenser 20 is equipped with; a papermoney slot 22; a paper money identifying section 24 for identifyingcounterfeit paper money from true paper money and the amount of insertedpaper; and a money exchanging hopper 25 for counting and dispensing agiven amount of coin to an exchanging coin tray 23 according to signalsfrom the paper money identifying section. The money exchanging hopper 25is connected to the exchanging coin tray 23 by a coin dispensing passage18a.

A display 21 for displaying the balance (i.e., the amount of money leftafter taking away the amount of exchanged coins from inserted papermoney) is mounted on the front of the coin dispenser 20. A paper moneytransferring apparatus 26 is mounted so that it extends to both end ofthe island along the terminus sides of the paper money identifyingsections 24 of respective coin dispensers 20. In one side of the papermoney transferring apparatus 26, a stock apparatus 27 which putstransferred paper money in order and piles the paper money therein, ispositioned in one side of the paper money transferring apparatus.

The distribution conveyer 30, is one of the elements of the coincirculating path 1, supplies coins to the coin game machines 11, and thecoin dispensers 20. The distribution conveyer 30 is located so as toextend almost horizontally at each upper portion of the respective coingame machines 11. As shown more in detail in FIG. 11-12, thedistribution conveyer 30 includes a frame 31 located almost horizontallyat an upper portion of the island and a belt 32 laid movably in theframe.

Plural distribution outlets 33 for each coin game machine 11 and eachcoin dispenser 20 are bored in the side 31a of the frame 31 of thedistribution conveyer 30. Each distribution outlet 33 and the gamemachine coin hopper 17 of each coin game machine 11 are connected bycoin introducing passage 19. Each distribution outlet 33 and the moneyexchanging hopper 25 of each coin dispenser 20 are similarly connectedby coin introducing passage 19a.

A shutter 35 which can move between a closed position, for preventingcoins on the distribution conveyer 30 from passing and for introducingcoins into the distribution outlet 33, and an open position, forpermitting passing of coins on distribution conveyer 30 downstream, ismounted above the distribution conveyer 30 beside said each distributionoutlet 33.

The shutter 35 is supported, so as to be capable of opening and shuttingby a driving member such as a rotary solenoid (not shown), on a cover 34laid on upper edges of both side edges 31a, of the frame 31. The shutter35 is set to be in an open position. However, when coins in each coinhopper 17, 25 are in short supply, the shutter is moved to a closedposition by the driving member according to the signals from the sensorsin the game machine coin hopper 17 and the money exchanging hopper 25.

As shown in FIG. 1, an end overflow passage 40 extending toward thelower portion of the island is connected to the end of the distributionconveyer 30. Respective game machine overflow passages 41 extendingtoward the lower portion of the island are connected to the game machinecoin hoppers 17 of respective coin game machines 11, and respectivemoney exchanging overflow passages 42 extending toward the lower portionof the island are connected to the money exchanging hoppers 25 ofrespective coin dispenser 20.

In the lower portion of the coin game island 10, the ends of therespective overflow passages 40-42 are connected to the collectingconveyer 43 extending almost horizontally. The collecting conveyer 43,similar to the distribution conveyer 30, includes a frame located almosthorizontally at the upper portion of the island and a belt laid movablyin the frame.

A coin tank 44, for storing collected coins temporarily, is placed atthe outlet end side of the collecting conveyer 43, and a lift 45 forlifting coins stored in the coin tank 44 to the inlet end of thedistribution conveyer 30 is mounted on the upper portion of the cointank 44. Since both composition of the coin tank 44 and the lift 45 arewell-known, they will not be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, a coin treating apparatus 50 including a coinwashing machine 70 is located at the outlet end side of the collectingconveyer 43, one component of the coin circulating path 1. As shown inFIG. 4, the coin treating apparatus 50 includes a coin supply machine 51for receiving coins and sending them at a given interval; a conveyingmechanism 60 for sending coins in the coin supply machine 51 todownstream for further processing; the coin washing machine 70 forremoving dirt from the coins on the conveying mechanism 60; adehydration mechanism 80 for absorbing water on washed coins; a dryer 90for removing dampness from the dehydrated coins; and a coin packer 100for packing washed and dried coins every given number of coins.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin treating apparatus 50 is located at theoutlet end side of the collecting conveyer 43 which is a part of thecoin circulating path 1 supplying and collecting coins inside the coingame machine island 10. The coin game machine island 10 has plural coingame machines 11 which use a coin as a game medium and plural coindispensers 20 for dispensing coins corresponding to an amount of moneyinserted, and coin game machines 11 and coin dispensers 20 are placedafter ratingly side by side.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a coin supply machine 51 of the cointreating apparatus 50 has a storage container 52 foe receiving coins onthe collecting conveyer 43. The top end of the storage container 52 isopened as an opening portion 53 for receiving coins, and the bottom 54of the storage container 52 is funnel-shaped. A coin outlet 55 is boredat the top of the funnel-shaped bottom 54 of the storage container 52.

A driving motor 58 is mounted on an inner wall of the storage container52, a coiled spring (a stirring means) 56 is linked to the output shaft,which is directed downward, of the driving motor 58. The coiled spring56 is placed so that its lower end may be slightly inserted into thecoin outlet 55. When the coiled spring 56 is rotated an appropriatedirection to pick up coins by the driving motor 58, coins entergradually by degrees into the hollow portion 57 inside the coiled springthrough outer gaps thereof and are sent out at a given interval.

The storage container 52 is alternately equipped with the multistagetilted boards 59, therein between its top end opening 53 and the coiledspring 56 at the lower portion of the storage container 52 fordecreasing coin the weight of the coins on the coiled spring 56.Although the stirring member is the coiled spring 56 in this embodiment,a cylindrical member 56a, shown in FIG. 7, having a cutout portion 56bfrom where coins are dropped, may be used instead of the coiled spring56.

As shown in FIG. 4, a conveying mechanism 60 includes a first conveyingbelt 61, which releases a coin washing machine 70, for conveying coinsfrom the coin supply machine 51 without turning the coins over; a secondconveying belt 63, which contact the first conveying belt 61, forconveying each turned over coin which has one washed surface, to saidcoin washing machine 70 to wash the other surface; and a third conveyingbelt 66 which contacts the second conveying belt 63.

The first conveying belt 61 is stretched by plural rollers 62, and it ison the stretched side 61a that is kept almost horizontal that the coinsare placed thereon for sending them to the coin washing machine 70. Areversing roller 64 for stretching the second conveying belt 63 is incontact with the end of the stretched side 61a of the first conveyingbelt 61. The second conveying belt 63 is also stretched by pluralrollers 65, and is mounted so as to turn over the coins conveyed by thefirst conveying belt 61 in order to pass the coins through the coinwashing machine 70 again to wash the second surface.

A reversing roller 67 for stretching the third conveying belt 66 is incontact with the end of the stretched side 63a of the second conveyingbelt 63. The third conveying belt 66 is also stretched by plural rollers68, and is mounted so as to turn over coins conveyed by the secondconveying belt 63 and to pass the coins through a dryer 90.

As shown in FIG. 8, the coin washing machine 70 has a two washing units70a, 70a for washing coins on the first conveying belt 61 and the secondconveying belt 63 by water or hot water. Each washing machine 70comprises a shower head 71, a rotating brush 72 and a jet nozzle 73.

The shower head 71 sprinkles water over the coins on said firstconveying belt 61 and the second conveying belt 63. The rotating brush72 is polishes wet coins by contacting to them with rotating. The jetnozzle 73 washes away dirt on the polished coins by shooting the jetwater stream to the coins, and dirt sticking the ins and outs of coinsis also taken off by the jet water at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dehydration mechanism 80 comprises the firstdehydration section 81 for absorbing water on one surface of washedcoins conveyed by said second conveying belt 63 and the seconddehydration section 82 for absorbing water on the other surface of saidwashed coins conveyed by said third conveying belt 66. Said dehydrationsections 81, 82 have a pair of quid rollers 83, 84 and an absorbing belt85 set between the guide rollers 83, 84 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, one guide rollers 83 of said respectivedehydration sections 81, 82, together with other rollers 65, 68, arepositioned so as to press said absorbing belt 85 on the wet surfaces ofcoins on each conveying belt 61, 63 of said conveying mechanism 60;furthermore, a dehydration roller 86 is mounted by the other guiderollers 84 for squeezing water out of said absorbing belt 85 by puttingthe absorbing belt 85 between the dehydration roller 86 and the guideroller 84. And a water tank 87 for storing squeezing water out of saidabsorbing belt 85 is positioned under said dehydration roller 86.

To explain in more detail, an inner base surface portion 85a of theabsorbing belt 85 is laminated so as to be in contact with the guiderollers 83. An outer absorbing surface portion 85b with wet surfaces ofthe coin. The base surface portion 85a is made of rubber or syntheticresins for giving strength to the absorbing belt 85, and the absorbingsurface portion 85b is made of well water absorbing fibers for absorbingwater on the coin surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 4, a dryer 90 is mounted above the third conveying belt66 downstream from the second dehydration sections 82. The dryer 90 isfor completely removing dampness from the on dehydrated coins. The dryer90 is a hot air blowing dryer including a heater 91 and a blower 92.

As shown in FIG. 4, a coin packer 100 is mounted in the end side of thethird conveying belt 66. The coin packer 100 is for packing washed anddried coins every given number of coins (for example 50 coins) bywinding paper round piled coins. As shown in FIG. 13, the coin packer100 includes a set of piling drums 101 capable of turning inverselytowards each other; coin supporting guides 102, formed round outer wallsof the piling drums 101, for supporting coins thereon and piling a givennumber coins (for example 50 coins); and a set of packing rollers 103,for packing piled coins by wrapping paper around them.

The operation of the first embodiment will be explained next.

As shown in FIG. 1-3, the plural coin game machines and coin dispensers20 are placed alternatingly side by side each other in the coin gamemachine island 10 and are supplied coins, as game medium (includingmedals), through the distribution conveyer 30 extending at each upperportion of the can game machines and coin dispensers.

When a player inserts paper money into the paper money slot 22 of thecoin dispenser 20, the paper money identifying section 24 identifieswhether the inserted paper money is counterfeit paper money or not. Whenthe paper money is judged to be counterfeit paper, the paper money isreturned to the player through the paper money slot 22. When theinserted paper money is judged to be true paper money, coins of a givenamount are dispensed into the exchanging coin tray 23 from the moneyexchanging hopper 25 according to signals from the paper moneyidentifying section 24. At this time, the balance (i.e., the amount ofmoney left after taking away the amount of exchanged coins from theamount of inserted paper money) is digitally displayed on the display21. Paper money in the coin dispenser 20 is sent to the stock apparatus27 at the end of the game island by the paper money transferringapparatus 26 and is put in order and piled therein.

The player can start a game by inserting coins from the exchanging cointray 23 into the coin slot 12. When coins in the coin hopper 17 and/ormoney exchanging hopper 25 are in short supply, the shutter 35 locatedabove the distribution conveyer 30 is moved from the open position tothe closed position according to the signals from the sensors in thegame machine coin hopper 17 and the money exchanging hopper 25.

Thus the shutter 35 prevents coins on the distribution conveyer 30 frompassing and introduces coins into each distribution outlet 33, and thensupplies coins to coin game machines 11 and/or coin dispensers 20 inshort supply. Therefore coins can be efficiently supplied to each coingame machines 11 and/or coin dispensers 20 in the above-mentioned simpleconstruction.

Coins sent to the end of the distribution conveyer 30 are sent to thecollecting conveyer 43 extending at the lower portion of the islandthrough an overflow passage 40. Coins used in each coin game machine 11are sent to the collecting conveyer 43 through the game machine overflowpassages 41, and similarly excessive coins in the coin dispensers 20 aresent to the collecting conveyer 43 through the money exchanging overflowpassages 42.

Coins sent to the the collecting conveyer 43, after to be washed by thecoin washing machine 70 of the coin treating apparatus 50, are stored inthe coin tank 44 placed at the outlet end side of the collectingconveyer 43. Coins stored in the coin tank 44 are lifted again to theinlet end of the distribution conveyer 30 by the lift 45 and thencirculate along with the coin circulating path 1 inside the island.

Since the coin washing machine 70 is provided in the coin circulatingpath 1, coin washing can be done within the coin game island. Thereforea the coin washing equipment mounted outside island and the conveyingequipment such as a large scale conveyer for connecting the island andthe coin washing equipment are unnecessary.

Coins are treated by the coin treating apparatus 50 mounted inside theend of the collecting conveyer 43 as follows. Coins on the collectingconveyer 43, as shown in FIG. 5, are sent into the storage container 52of the coin supply machine 51 through its opening portion 53. Since thestorage container 52 is equipped with the multistage tilted boards 59,therein, coins do not fall toward the bottom 54, but slip down themultistage tilted boards 59. Therefore, the coiled spring 56 at thelower portion of the storage container 52 does not add on more weight.

Although the coins which reach the funnel-shaped bottom 54 tend tocollect at the coin outlet 55 bored at the top of the funnel-shapedbottom 54, coins do not flow out through the coin outlet 55 of thebottom 54 because the driving motor 58 is usually stopped. Thus, thecoiled spring 56 prevents coins from glowing. Although some coins aredropped from outer gaps of the coiled spring 56, they have no effect.

When the coiled spring 56 is rotated to pick up coins by the drivingmotor 58, coins enter into the hollow portion 57 through outer gaps ofthe coiled spring 56 and move down to the coin outlet 55, and then theyare sent to the conveying mechanism 60 at a given interval. The inverserotation of the driving motor 58 causes sandwitching coins between thecoin outlet 55 of the bottom 54 and the coiled spring 56.

Coins sent to the first conveying belt 61 of the conveying mechanism 60at a given interval, as shown in FIG. 4, reach the coin washing machine70 without being turned over. In the coin washing machine 70, as shownin FIG. 8, the shower head 71 sprinkles hot or cold water over one faceof each coin to wet it. Thus, water can enter into all the nooks andcranies of the coins where granular abrasive cannot enter, therebydissolving dirt on the coins in water.

Then, the rotating brush 72 polishes the wet coins. Finally, the jetnozzle 73 washes away dirt on a polished coins by shooting the jet waterstream of water the coins. At this time, the jet stream of water alsotakes off dirt sticking the nooks and cranies of the coin.

Each coin washed having one surface is sandwiched between the firstconveying belt 61 and the second conveying belt 63 within the sectionwhere the second conveying belt 63 contacts the reversing roller 64 andis raised by a height equal to the diameter of the reversing roller 64.Then, each coin is lain on the stretched side 63a of the secondconveying belt 63 after being turned over and is sent to the coinwashing machine 70 again. The other surface of each turned over coin iswashed by the coin washing machine 70.

Almost all remaining water on both surfaces of the coin having bothsurfaces washed by the coin washing machine 70 is absorbed by theabsorbing belt 85 of the first dehydration section 81 of the dehydrationmachanism 80 during the time the coins lay on the second conveying belt63. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, coin on the the stretched side 63a ofthe second conveying belt 63 is sandwiched between the conveying beltand the absorbing belt 85 so that excess water is absorbed by theabsorbing surface portion 85b of the absorbing belt 85.

The absorbing belt 85 which absorbs the water, as shown in FIG. 4, issandwiched tightly between the guide roller 84 positioned in the otherend side and the dehydration roller 86 positioned by the side of theguide roller 84. Water squeezed out of the absorbing belt 85 isrecovered and stored in the water tank 87. Furthermore, each coin issandwiched between the third conveying belt 66 and the second conveyingbelt 63 within the section where the third conveying belt 66 contactsthe reversing roller 67 and is raised by a height equal to the diameterof the reversing roller 67. Then each coin is lain on the stretched side66a of the third conveying belt 66 after being turned over.

Almost all remaining water on both surfaces of the turned over coin isabsorbed by the absorbing belt 85 of the second dehydration section 82of the dehydration machanism 80 during the time the coins lay on thethird conveying belt 66. All remaining water on the coins surfaces whichhas not been absorbed by the dehydration mechanism 80 is blown by hotwind from the dryer 90 so that dampness on the dehydrated coins isremoved.

Thus, the water remaining on washed coin is treated by the dehydrationmechanism 80 and the dryer 90, and is completely removed. Therefore,solution, such as dirt in water, which causes spots or lack of gloss, isnot left on the coin surfaces.

Coins dryed after washing are returned to the end of the collectingconveyer 43 or are circulated in the island, as needed, after beingpacked every given number of coins (for example 50 coins) by, the coinpacker 100. When the coin packer 100 receives the coins, the set ofpiling drums 101, turn inversely towards each other to pile coins on thecoiled coin supporting guides 102. Then the piled given number of coinsare packed by wrapping paper by the set of packing rollers 103.

The second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 74. Thecomponents with that are the same as the components of the firstembodiment are numbered the same numerals, and the explanations of thosecomponents will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the coin dispenser 20a, mounted on the coingame island 70a is not equipped with a money exchanging hopper 25, butis equipped with only the paper money identifying section 24. The gamemachine coin hopper 17a mounted on the coin game machine 11a operatesaccording to the signals, identifying the amount of money, fed to acontrol section (not shown). Then, a given number of coins are dispensedto the coin return 16a.

Thus, the coin introducing passage 19a for the coin dispenser 20a, thecoin dispensing passage 78a, the money exchanging overflow passages 42,etc. are not neccesary, thus, the coin circulating path 1a can besimplified.

According to the coin game machine island and the coin treatingapparatus of the present invention, the coin circulating path includesthe distribution conveyer extending at the upper portion of the coingame machine island; overflow passages extending downwardly from the endof the distribution conveyer and respective coin game machines; acollecting conveyer extending at the lower portion of the island andconnected to the ends of the respective overflow passage; a coin tankplaced at the outlet end side of the collecting conveyer a lift forlifting coins stored in the coin tank to the inlet end of a distributionconveyer; the coin washing machine is provided in the coin circulatingpath; so that the coins can be washed inside the island. Thus, a coinwashing equipment outside coin game machine island and a conveyingequipment such as a large scale conveyer for connecting the island andthe coin washing equipment are unnecessary. Furthermore, the cointreating apparatus does not need as large of a space as is needed byprior art devices and costs less to install and maintain.

Furthermore, the coin supply machine sends coins at a given interval.The conveying mechanism sends coins, in the coin supply mechanism,downstream for further processing. The coin washing machine removes dirtfrom coins on the conveying mechanism. Finally the dryer removesdampness from dehydrated coins so that all of the rooks and cranies ofthe coins can be washed sufficiently by water without using abrasivesand water on the coins surfaces is eliminated efficiently and certainly.

We claim:
 1. In a coin game machine island having a plurality of coingame machines which use a coin as a game medium and having a pluralityof coin dispensers for dispensing coins corresponding to an amount ofinserted money, a coin game machine of said plurality of coin gamemachines is placed alternatingly beside a coin dispenser of saidplurality of coin dispensers, said coin game machine island comprising:acoin circulating path having a distribution conveyer extending at eachupper portion of said plural coin game machines and coin dispensers,plural overflow passages extending downwardly from the end of saiddistribution conveyer and respective coin game machines, a collectingconveyer extending at the lower portion of said island and connected tothe ends of said respective overflow passages, a coin tank placed at theoutlet end side of said collecting conveyer and a lift means for liftingcoins stored in said coin tank to the inlet end of said distributionconveyer; a coin washing machine provided in said coin circulating path;a coin supply means for receiving coins on said coin circulating pathand sending said coins, once received, to said coin washing machine at agiven interval; a conveying means for sending said coins in said coinsupply machine downstream for further processing; a dehydration meansfor absorbing water on said coins, once polished and washed; and a dryermeans for removing dampness from said coins; and wherein said coin gamemachines, said coin dispensers, said coin circulating path, saiddistribution conveyer, said plural overflow passages, said collectingconveyer, said coin tank, said lift means, said coin washing machine,said coin supply means, said conveying means, said dehydration means andsaid dryer means are all mounted inside said coin game island.
 2. Thecoin game machine island as in claim 1, wherein said coin washingmachine comprises a shower head means for sprinking water over saidcoins, a rotating brush means for polishing said coins, when wet, bycontacting said coins with said rotating brush, and a jet nozzle meansfor washing away any remaining dirt on said coins, once polished, byshooting jet water streams at said coins.
 3. A coin game machine islandas in claim 1, further comprising:a coin supply machine for receivingcoins on said coin circulating path and sending them to said coinwashing machine at a given interval; a conveying mechanism for sendingcoins in said coin supply machine to down stream for next processes; adehydration mechanism for absorbing water on washed coins; and a dryerfor removing damp on dehydrated coins.
 4. A coin game machine island asin claim 2, further comprising:a coin supply machine for receiving coinson said coin circulating path and sending them to said coin washingmachine at a given interval; a conveying mechanism for sending coins insaid coin supply machine to down stream for next processes; adehydration mechanism for absorbing water on washed coins; and a dryerfor removing damp on dehydrated coins.
 5. The coin game machine islandas in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of distributionoutlet means for each coin game machine of said plurality of coin gamemachines are bored in the side of said distribution conveyer; furthercomprises coin introducing passages for connecting respectivedistribution outlets and respective coin game machines, and pluralshutters, mounted above said distribution conveyer beside said eachdistribution outlet, capable of moving between shutting positions, forpreventing coins on said distribution conveyer from passing and forintroducing coins into said distribution outlets, and an openingpositions, for permitting downstream passage of coins on saiddistribution conveyer.
 6. A coin treating apparatus for mounting insidea coin game machine island in which plural coin game machines using acoin as a game medium are placed comprising:a coin supply machine forreceiving coins and sending them at a given interval; a conveyingmechanism for sending coins in said coin supply machine to down streamfor next processes; a coin washing machine for removing dirt on coins onsaid conveying mechanism; and a dehydration mechanism for absorbingwater on washed coins, said conveying mechanism has a first conveyingbelt, reached said coin washing machine, for conveying coins from saidcoin supply machine without turning them over, a means for turning oversaid coins, and a second conveying belt, in contact with said firstconveying belt, for conveying each turned over coin whose one surfacehas been washed to said coin washing machine again for washing the othersurface, and said dehydration mechanism has a pair of guide rollers, anabsorbing belt set between said guide rollers, a dehydration rollermounted by one of the guide rollers for squeezing water out of saidabsorbing belt by putting the absorbing belt between the dehydrationroller and the guide roller, a water tank, for storing squeezing waterout of said absorbing belt, positioned under said dehydration roller,and the other of said guide rollers is positioned so as to press saidabsorbing belt on the wet surfaces of coins on each conveying belt ofsaid conveying mechanism.
 7. The coin treating apparatus as in claim 6,in which said coin supply machine has a storage container for receivingcoins comprising:a funnel-shaped bottom; a coin outlet bored at the topof the funnel-shaped bottom; a stirring means, positioned at the lowerportion in said storage container, having a rotating hollow portion fordropping coins to the outside of said coin outlet with taking in coinsserially; and multistage tilted boards, for lightening weight of coinsweighting on said stirring means, mounted on inner wall between topopening portion of said storage container and said stirring means at thelower of the storage container.
 8. The coin treating apparatus as inclaim 6, in which said coin washing machine comprises a shower head forsprinkling water over the coins on said each conveying belts, a rotatingbrush for polishing wet coins by contacting to them with rotating, and ajet nozzle for washing away dirt on the polished coins by shooting jetwater stream to the coins.
 9. The coin treating apparatus as in claim 7,in which said coin washing machine comprises a shower head forsprinkling water over the coins on said each conveying belts, a rotatingbrush for polishing wet coins by contacting to them with rotating, and ajet nozzle for washing away dirt on the polished coins by shooting jetwater stream to the coins.
 10. A coin treating apparatus as in clam 6,in which said coin washing machine comprises a shower head forsprinkling water over the coins on said each conveying belts, a rotatingbrush for polishing wet coins by contacting to them with rotating, and ajet nozzle for washing away dirt on the polished coins by shooting jetwater stream to the coins.
 11. The coin treating apparatus as in claim6, 7, 8, or 9, further comprising a dryer having a heater and a blower.12. The coin treating apparatus as in claim 6, 7, 8, or 9, furthercomprising a coin packer for packing the washed and dried coins everygiven number coins.
 13. The coin treating apparatus as in claim 11,further comprising a coin packer for packing the washed and dried coinsevery given number coins.
 14. A coin treating apparatus as in claim 10further comprising a coin packer for packing the washed and dried coinsevery given number coins.